Long Description:This bust is located in the British Museum which does not charge an admission fee and DOES allow non-flash photography. This marble life-sized bust depicts Alexander the Great as a youthful man with long curly hair.The Museum's website (visit link) adds:

"Marble portrait of Alexander the Great

Hellenistic Greek, 2nd-1st century BCSaid to be from Alexandria, Egypt

Youthful image of the conqueror king

Literary sources tell us, though perhaps not reliably, that Alexander (reigned 336-323 BC) chose only a few artists to produce his image, and famous names such as the sculptor Lysippos and the painter Apelles were associated with his portraiture. Though none of the famous images have been recovered, many sculptures in different materials, as well as portraits on gemstones and coins, survive. These were mostly produced long after Alexander's death and while the portraits follow similar general characteristics, they also vary in style.

Alexander was always shown clean-shaven, which was an innovation: all previous portraits of Greek statesmen or rulers had beards. This royal fashion lasted for almost five hundred years and almost all of the Hellenistic kings and Roman emperors until Hadrian were portrayed beardless. Alexander was the first king to wear the all-important royal diadem, a band of cloth tied around the hair that was to become the symbol of Hellenistic kingship.

Earlier portraits of Alexander, in heroic style, look more mature than the portraits made after his death, such as this example. These show a more youthful, though perhaps more god-like character. He has longer hair, a more dynamic tilt of the head and an upward gaze, resembling his description in literary sources.

This head was acquired in Alexandria, the city founded by Alexander in 331 BC, and the location of his tomb. Alexandria was also the capital of the longest surviving Hellenistic dynasty, the Ptolemies. From the time of the reign of Ptolemy I Soter ('Saviour') (305-282 BC), Alexander was worshipped as a god and the forefather of the dynasty."

By age 30, Alexander had created a huge empire. His legacy was the spread of Greek culture through much of the Mediterranean and Asian nations. Read the extensive Wikipedia article about him at (visit link)

Monarch Ranking: Emperor / EmpressProper Title and Name of Monarch: King Alexander III of MacedonCountry or Empire of Influence: Alexandrian EmpireWebsite for additonal information: [Web Link]

Visit Instructions:

Waymark Visitor - Must either

Provide a photo at the Statue

Answer a related question, if available, as posted on the Waymark description to the satistfaction of the Owner